Movies

Benediction is streaming on BBC iPlayer (Image: Laurence Cendrowicz)Directed and written by a filmmaker considered one of Britain's most accomplished auteurs of his generation, this 2021 film marked Terence Davies' final work of brilliance.The biographical romantic drama, Benediction, features Jack Lowden and Peter Capaldi in the lead roles as war poet Siegfried Sassoon, with supporting performances from Simon Russell Beale, Kate Phillips, Gemma Jones, Jeremy Irvine, and Ben Daniels, forming a remarkable ensemble cast.The film follows the story of Siegfried Sassoon, a British poet and decorated World War I combat veteran who was sent to a psychiatric facility for his outspoken anti-war stance.This biographical piece explores his romantic relationships with several men during the 1920s, ...

Tom Hardy also stars in the film (Image: Publicity Picture)A crime thriller featuring Tom Hardy alongside a legendary actor in his final performance airs on Film4 this evening, with viewers hailing it as 'a hidden gem'.The Drop, which hit cinemas in 2014 after filming wrapped in 2013, proved both a critical and commercial triumph upon release.The story centres on Bob Saginowski (portrayed by Peaky Blinders star Tom Hardy), a bartender working at his cousin's establishment who turns a blind eye when local criminals utilise the venue as a makeshift drop-off point.His uncomplicated life becomes turbulent after discovering an injured puppy.Seeking assistance from his neighbour Nadia (portrayed by Noomi Rapace) to nurse the animal back to health, a romantic connection develops between them.I...

Daniel Craig and Drew Starkley star in the film (Image: The Apartment S.r.l./ A24)A 1950s-set period drama featuring a Hollywood A-lister has been hailed as 'robbed of an Oscar' by devoted viewers - and it's airing on BBC2 this evening.Queer unfolds across 1950s Mexico City and Ecuador, chronicling the story of an outsider American expatriate (portrayed by former James Bond star Daniel Craig) who develops an intense fascination with a considerably younger man named Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey).Their connection propels them on a hallucinogenic, otherworldly odyssey through South America.The picture made its debut at the 81st Venice International Film Festival in 2024 and draws from William S. Burroughs' 1985 novella.Whilst Craig's iconic portrayal of James Bond might have threatened to...

The Western is a forgotten classic (Image: Getty)Fans of classic Westerns and musicals are urged to rediscover this hidden gem now streaming for free.The movie also stars the ‘King’ of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest singers of all time.Directed by Frederick De Cordova, the 1966 film sees Elvis star opposite actress and singer Donna Douglas, who is known for her role as Elly May Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies.While the flick has just 49% on the Rotten Tomatoes Popcornmeter, plenty of fans have suggested it is a “classic” hidden gem and maybe even a “guilty pleasure” watch.The movie features a Hollywood icon (Image: Getty) Read more: ‘Must watch’ war film hailed as ‘the new Predator’ coming to Netflix very soon Read more: ‘Best thri...

If you’re looking for a gripping film to watch, you simply must consider this one. The film has topped a list on Time Out for being the number one best film of all time.It’s one that has become a key part of pop culture and over the years, it has retained its status. 2001: A Space Odyssey is based around a mysterious artifact which is uncovered on the Moon. After it is discovered, a spacecraft manned by two humans and one supercomputer is sent to Jupiter to find its origins.One person on IMDB said: “Greatest Movie of All Time. Instead of writing a paragraph, I'll give four good reasons why 2001 is the greatest cinema experience of all time.”Another person penned: “2001: A Space Odyssey is my favourite film of all time for simply one reason: the ending. Kubrick's ambiguous finish to this...

If you’re looking for a film to watch this winter, look no further than this thrilling Leonardo DiCaprio hit. On a list by Collider, the film has been named as Leo’s best film. The Departed (2006), follows an undercover cop and a mole in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston.Collider says: “The Departed is an example of Scorsese and DiCaprio both reaching their creative peaks. This endlessly rewatchable remake of the iconic action movie Infernal Affairs is the definitive crime epic of the 21st century, and features DiCaprio in one of the grittiest (yet most vulnerable) performances of his career as the undercover police officer Billy Costigan Jr.”The lead role of Billy Costigan is played by Leonardo DiCaprio, in one of his most acclai...

Wuthering Heights opens with a condemned man being aroused as he suffocates to death at the gallows, while a nun watches on, licking her lips. Emerald Fennell loves to shock her audiences with provocative imagery across her films. Although, unlike her last feature, Saltburn, there are fewer bodily fluids here and more gooey egg yokes and snail slime. From the outset, it’s clear exactly what her interpretation of Emily Brontë’s classic novel is going to be about, and it imbues every character and much of the imagery throughout: BDSM via the “pleasurable” pain of the leads’ unfulfilled romance.It’s a bold and original take on a complex book that is regularly butchered and rarely adapted faithfully for the screen. But Fennell never set out to do the latter. After all, her film is literally...

If you’re looking for a film to watch that you might not have seen before, there’s one you have to consider. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe and Russell Means, this film is one that will keep you gripped until the end.The Last of the Mohicans (1992), tells the story of three Mohican trappers who agree to protect the daughters of a British Colonel in the midst of the French and Indian War. Fans on IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes have praised the film and for a huge amount of movie-lovers, it’s among their favourites. It has been listed as one of the most "underrated" war films by Ranker.One person on IMDB wrote: “This is turning out to be one of my most favourite romantic epics of all time.“I know most people do not see this as romantic as it is a classic battle movie. As a matter of...

‘Powerful masterpiece’ based on incredible true story is on Netflix (Image: UNIVERSAL PICTURES)Netflix is currently streaming one of the most critically acclaimed films of the previous decade from one of Hollywood’s premier filmmakers.Based on an incredible true story of resilience in the face of racial discrimination in 1970s America, BlackKklansman is widely considered one of director Spike Lee’s greatest films.John David Washington stars as real-life police officer Ron Stallworth, who becomes the first Black officer to be hired by the Colorado Springs Police Department.After facing relentless bullying from his racist colleagues, Stallworth becomes a detective and teams with his Jewish co-worker Flip Zimmerman (played by Adam Driver) to infiltrate a local division of the Ku Klux Klan....

BBC iPlayer has released a mystery thriller that’s been leaving viewers both mesmerised and unsettled. Lauded for its beautiful visuals and creepy tension, this film builds a world that feels both glamorous and disturbingly bizarre.Beneath its polished surface, the story explores obsession, privilege, and the dark side of desire. Yet it’s one strange, shocking scene that left audiences questioning what they just saw. That film that caused all the buzz? Saltburn (2023).Saltburn premiered at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2023 and hit UK cinemas on November 17. The film then premiered on Prime Video on December 22, sparking controversy on social media. It is now free to watch on BBC iPlayer.What is the plot?Starting at Oxford University, socially isolated student Oliver Qu...